Posted by SueTLC

Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen several varying reports on release dates for the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince DVD. Home Media Magazine is reporting this confusion and uncertainty is because WB is deliberately withholding the formal release date. The article says that WB apparently feels by withholding the exact date and their releases until late in the year, it will help increase sales as they believe holiday shoppers will wait until last minute to make their purchases. Quotage:

Warner Home Video has decided to release its tentpole titles later than
usual, anticipating consumers will delay holiday purchases until the
last minute, said a Time Warner senior executive…Packaged media and digital release dates for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ($298 million domestic box office) and The Hangover ($272 million) are still pending.

Speaking
at an investor confab in Marina del Ray, Calif., Time Warner CFO John
Martin said the No. 1 home entertainment studio (in market share)
continued to scrutinize the entire business, which he said included
Blu-ray Disc, electronic sellthrough, video-on-demand (VOD), rental
kiosks and Netflix, in an effort to extract the maximum margins in the
various distribution channels. “We are purposely putting our
titles into the retail channel later in the fourth quarter to try and
take advantage of what we believe will be the optimal foot traffic
trends in retail’ Martin said.

Related: While WB is holding back formal announcements on the release date of the DVD, several readers let us know about pre-orders and release dates in Australia. First TLC reader Luke let us know that the Half-Blood Prince DVD in Australia can be pre-ordered at this link, with a November 30th date. Also, as first reported here, WB is releasing two “Ultimate Collectors” edition DVDs this fall, with TLC reader Jack letting us know that Sorcerer’s Stone, and Chamber of Secrets special editions are due out on November 18th in Australia. More when we get it, stay tuned!

lonerwolfygirl says: That's stupid why won't they just announce the date? All the same people are going to buy it no matter when they put it out...it's Harry Potter for crying out loud!bettb says: Whatever. It will CERTAINLY be released in the 6 or 8 weeks before Christmas, since it is such a buying frenzy time. Not like this will be a big mystery!cghambright says: Oh man!! WB! Those are the TWO dvds I want the most!! As long as they come out this year then I'm good...I'm going to by them regardless of when WB announces the release date. The Hangover and Half Blood Prince were my two favorite movies this year! I can't wait!!! :Dclabwag says: We're (Australia) hardly going to get the DVD first so that release date is surely going to be mimicking the American one, if not even later. Leeann says: As long as it comes out this year I guess I'll be ok with it.Matea says: jeez,I want the DVD next month! and I'll probably have to wait until 2010. :(axlgirl says: Warner Bros is becoming increasingly annoying...WON_TWO says: They spend too much time and effort analyzing things that need no analysis... Just release the dang DVD, and it will sell, sell, sell...Moose_Starr says: Yeah, I dont really understand their logic ... as soon as the DVD becomes available for preorder, I'm going to buy it. Why delay announcing the date ... what do they hope to achieve? Maybe if they announced the date as something like December 10 we could think they're hoping to get holiday sales but, at least by announcing the date they can start getting preorders. I'm totally confused by their reasoning. People that are going to buy HBP or the SS & COS special editions are going to buy them. Not announcing a date just means that we cant preorder them. Weird ...Ocky says: The only reason for the late release is to have the Christmas No. 1 DVD, the kudos that will give WB Aus with WB head office must mean a lot to them. Don't worry about the true fans, they just bankroll the business.Cool Grandma2 says: Actually this may back fire on them. People will be buying their Christmas much earlier this year to make sure they have the money to buy. The days of having a lot of money for last minute shopping are over. That was done mostly with charge cards and people are being more careful with their charge card spending. Oh the real fans will purchase the DVD because they already have it planned in their budgets but the impluse buyers may not be there.budb says: Still, something doesn't make sense about the release of HBP...by postponing the theatrical release, WB had tons of time to determine what would be on the dvds, print, package and have them stockpiled in warehouses....yet clearly that is not what happened. Illogical, and given some of WB management decisions in the past year or so, consistently incompetent (remember Slum Dog Millionaire?). WB increasingly dominates film, tv, and dvd....yet it appears to be more by accident rather than by any thoughtful coherent plan.
Would WB's profit margin be so much larger by cutting down on pre-orders (even via say Amazon, with a discount: most if not all of the discount would come out of Amazon's profit margin, not WB's). and relying on walk in holiday sales at Walmarts, etc? I would assume not....there would be increased profits for the retailer, not WB, so where's the logic?
but, then, look at the economic mess that the world's business leaders have gotten us all into!
Blatcher914 says: Exactly, this is so silly! All the super fans are going to buy the DVD no matter, what they are just risking that the impulse buyers won't be there, DVDs aren't exactly stocking stuffers.budb says: good point, cool G...i am one of those early, careful shoppers, and like to have things wrapped up well in advance. almost done with the grandkids already, and need to order 3 of the HBP, and one each of SS and Cos (for myself, if the budget allows...)
i really think the WB executives are badly out of touch...but my opinion of business executives is not very high to start with, and never has beenlevi-OH-sa not levio-SA says: o well, it's exhausting being mad at WB all the time, i really don't care, i will buy it whenever they decide to put it on the shelves...JessSnape says: It is extremely irritating when they play games like this!! Just tell us the release date so we can have a countdown on our calendars (at least on mine:)Lisbry says: I don't really get their way of thinking, but I don't care too much. It'll come, when it'll come. I almost hope that the whole plan will backfire on them, so that they'll think a bit more logically for future movies (including HP 7 Part One and Two). MiliMalfoy says: So it's coming out this year? Or..?
Either way, I'm super excited, I have to buy it on DVD because I've seen it in the cinema twice already and it would be much too expensive to go many more times even though I would love to! :)Lady of the Lake says: *Sigh* I hate it when greed dominates the holiday season. SiriusGirl19 says: wow...they really are all about the money aren't they...humbert0 says: What's so confusing? Just release it! xDFresca says: I think Warners is making a big mistake there. What about people who like to shop early, or who can't or do not want to be in big crowds at Christmastime? If there is a flu epidemic, their sales won't be great either. Steph-potter says: You can allready pre-order it here in Mexico, I already have and they told us that the release date its still December 7.
I hope they don't move the day, but still greedy greedy people.wandmastercalum says: Haven't WB learned from their last mistake with HBP? I don't want that happening again!heartless_wench says: When are ya'll going to realize that the "Super Fan" is not who generates the most money on these movies? We are a small minority when it comes down to the audience these movies have. Yes, we generate profit, and (probably more importantly) we generate press, but the general public is who brings in the most money. They are waiting on the release so that when it gets closer to Christmas, all the grandmas and moms and aunts and uncles who Christmas shop for their little HP fans will see the display or the add, and they'll have a great idea of what to get them. Yes, they know you and I will all buy the DVD, it's everyone else they're trying to get.
And as for budb, who wrote: "WB increasingly dominates film, tv, and dvdâ€¦.yet it appears to be more by accident rather than by any thoughtful coherent plan." Did you ever think that maybe that's why they dominate? Even though these decisions might disappoint US as super-fans, they often do make a lot of business sense.ele0206 says: What does this people think?? They're doing it again, it's exhausting... really, they're annoying me...:((budb says: heartless, re your closing comments, my point was that as business decisions these WB decisions do not make sense, and that the success of WB appears to be more an accident than the result of any sensible plan. are you arguing that chaos and poor decision making are good for business? ;-)
regardless, we'll buy the things, right?vespasian68967 says: I'd buy it yesterday if it was out. I suppose the proper attitude to take is the stoical one, it'll be out when it's out. Sigh.gryffindor1991 says: i hope it comes out in early december like they said before.hellomotoCOOP says: i cant wait for itLivelaughlovepotter says: Wow. Really? Are millions of dollars not enough?
I think it doesn't matter whether or not the date is withheld. People are still going to by the DVD, no matter how early it is released!muggle118 says: itll come out between halloween and christmas more likely thanksgiving ish thats when all the summer movies go outfantasylover12001 says: The WB corporates are being real asses right now, or is that just me?budb says: just a stray thought while sitting on the deck.
we can assume that sales through Amazon and other 'mail order/internet' venders account for a substantial portion of total WB sales. and it has been a pattern in recent years that an increasing number of people shop for holiday gifts through Amazon, etc. we can also assume that WB can only jerk Amazon and other venders around so much, since WB relies on those companies to deal with the direct to customer distribution issues. Also, think of all the presents that need to be shipped from grandparent to grandchild (etc), which will take some time as well...it would be stunningly poor customer relations to not take that into account, and risk customer complaints! For orders to be processed by Amazon (or whoever), and for the merchandise to be received by customers in time for the holidays, it has to be available for shipping by no later than early or mid december...even 15 December would be pushing the extreme limit. So, my guess is that the 7 December date will hold, or at most get pushed back by less than a week...
and, as we all agree, regardless, we'll buy the bloody things anyway...
curiously, there have been several recent reports that Walmarts is going to make a concerted push to corner the low-end retail market, in part by having agreements that give them products to sell either exclusively (as has been done already with some cds) or as the first and only vender to have the merchandise available for at least a specific length of time, essentially briefly cornering the market. might be a connection with this new WB twist? shrug.
here's the chocolate bowl, y'all enjoy!Dunedainsith says: The world is full of illogical people. There may be things going on behind the scenes also. What? There is way of knowing. As for me, I HAVE to have the Chamber of Secrets special edition because that is my FAVORITE movie! I love the Basilisk. But Lucius Malfoy and that bow....that is a big strange. As if he pimp stick was not enough.heartless_wench says: To budb, who says: "my point was that as business decisions these WB decisions do not make sense, and that the success of WB appears to be more an accident than the result of any sensible plan. are you arguing that chaos and poor decision making are good for business? ;-)"
But I'm saying that these are NOT poor decisions and chaos. We only say they are bad decisions because we want the info/product now. They are actually (probably) sound decisions because they result in WB being so dominate in the industry. That's what I'm saying.
But, alas, you are right, we will all buy them, no matter what. :-)
ps: I would bet that they will be available not long after Thanksgiving (US), because thats when the big shopping begins. They're just not telling us yet.Broomsnitch says: I'm so upset about this news! I was hoping to have the DVD in my hands by early December!Dunedainsith says: Broomsnitch, this does not mean it will not come out in December. They want more hype. That is what they are doing. They are trying to work out some psychology on us. Dont worry, sister movies always come out the same time as their previous movies. Take the POTC ones, they got in theaters around the same month, and were released on DVD the same month. There is no reason not to expect HBP the same month as the other movies.makochibi says: I hope it comes out sooner rather then laterHBPFan says: Not interested in when they're going to release it...they're going to have to sometime.. I thoroughly enjoyed it when I saw it, but I'm not going to flip just because WB have decided to be all diffiult and mystifying! Take as long as you like WB.... Hermione Elizabeth says: Sounds stupid to me! Us HP fans are going to buy the DVD no matter when it comes out... so what are they hoping to gain if they release it later? If they release it early in the holiday season, then won't more people buy it since it'll be out longer? Not sure I understand WB's logic here, but whatever. I agree with some you saying that last minute shopping is over too. Nowadays with the economy not so stable, most people will be buying thier gifts ahead of the holiday rush, so they know they have the money. If WB waits to put it out for the last holiday rush, I don't think there is going to be one. Most people will just wait until after the holiday's to actually take the time and go out and get it.HPNAIV says: Whatever, as long as I get my hands on it, I'm fine with whenever they announce the date. And as long as they don't release it like ... next year. But that's next to impossible anyway. (But hey, it IS Warner Brothers. =/)Ganduean-Vampiress says: OOOO theose greedy buggers i soo want to get my hands on that movie
cheeserpleaser says: It is a pity that Warner Brothers refuses to divulge when the DVD will be released, but one thing is for certain: I am going to buy it on the day that it is.Khephran says: Because that makes sense, people will buy more dvds if we give them less time to do so, and allow them to sell outFloridianFlounder95 says: My two favourite films of the year right? Harry Potter and the Hangover? You know what, I'll just wait and see if it's under my tree for Christmas....potterfan4lyfe says: As long as the DVD comes out before 2010 im okayyMosu says: this is silly!ilovethepotters says: australia is crap and we never get anything first so im not going to take that release date seriously, knowing us we'll get it like 3 weeks after the US and UK or something stupid like that!mugglemom4 says: What are they playing at? maimiaa says: whatever WB. you're still gonna get my money. so why not tell me when it's gonna come out. LAME.budb says: ah, heartless, i love it when there's a good discussion! where were you during the early Leaky days, before MY Leaky? You missed some of the infamous, nasty threads like "Dumbledore is Gay", "Is JKR really christian", "RDR and SVA's Lexicon" and other unpleasantries. Another reasonable voice would have been very welcome!
I actually do know a bit about WB beyond its HP franchise tho, and still think they are stumbling toward success rather than working with a coherent plan....while I may be giving the WB execs too little credit, perhaps you are giving them too much? ;-)
cghambright says: Oh Please people, stop complaining...the dvd is going to come out by Christmas and you know it. WB didn't say they were going to release the dvd late...they're just delaying the announcement of the release date so that it kind of sneaks up on people and then they will go out and buy it. It's a marketing strategy and it's been done before countless times. There are quite a few movies that came out in May with Star Trek and they've ALL come out on dvd, but Star Trek still hasn't because they're doing the same thing as WB. If you delay the announce, the anticipation will build and more people will buy it. deadtree says: Ok, so they're going to release the dvds later because you know, it... won't be there... later? What? If they release it in November like other films that ran in the theater at about the same time, people shopping early AND people shopping late can get it ._.PineappleCrush says: Why is the WB so blood-thirsty for money? I don't think there is really going to be a difference if they release it at the end of November versus the end of October. In fact, I would think that they would get more money if they released it sooner because then it would be on the shelves longer so more people would see it and get interested in it.
Gone are the days that movie studios actually cared about what they were producing and cared more about quality films rather than profit. It makes me absolutely sick how money has such a grip-hold on society. Completely disgusts me.HGROSS44 says: WB loves to play these games and there is nothing we can do about it.MikaMaxwell says: I don't think it will increase sales to withhold the dates. Unless what they're actually intending to do is push sales to a later time in the year, just for their own bookkeeping/tax/whatever purposes. Honestly, if they release in December, I might just wait until AFTER the holidays so that I won't have to bother with the holiday rush!Zivlok says: Am I the only one who isn't mad at WB? It's like when the moved the movie release date two days earlier, and everyone got incensed. It's really not that big of a deal. The efficacy of their plan is debatable, but it might turn out well for them. I'm dubious about how well this scheme will really work, but I don't really see the need to be angry. They're a company. They make money. For some reason, they believe this will make them more money. Woop-de-doo.hereward says: Its all about money folks. Anyone see in the news recently that WB settled out of court with the Tolkien Estate for unpaid royalties regarding Tolkien's 'contribution' to the Lord of the Rings film franchise. Lucky JKR got her million in advance!Want to be a Weasley says: It doesn't really matter, I would love to have it now, but I will buy it whenever it becomes available.
Carol Carvalho says: HA HA HA That is wonderful! :P I'm deliberately waiting to buy the " Harry Potter And Almost Good Movie" DVD anyways!!! I'm gonna wait until it is on sale for $7 because that is all that is really worth! lol
snoops says: There was a report that WB said the Half Blood prince DVD was going to go on sale 12/7/09. Are they reneging on that now?phoenixes are in ravenclaw says: Doesn't matter when it comes out, I'm asking for it for Christmas...mjkalldaway says: i guess we'll have to wait...
but there is something that there waitiing for i think
i don't think its true its just my gut feelingkaylawatson says: Its crap what they're doing thats what it is.
But i am not complaining.
all is for the best(yeah,right)
cheers!Linnyish says: This is really nothing to get upset about.Drops_of_Jupiter says: I would think this would backfire on them because without pre-order for an option they wont have an idea of how to stock the stores and they can sell out really quickly. If this happens the shipments of more dvds is going to take longer and they might actually sell less because some people might just say forget it and just wait until after the holiday rush if everytime they go to the store it is sold out.
Obviously the true fans will probably get it right away even if they have to go back, but people who are getting it as a gift might not be as motivated to make another trip to get it if it sells out...Drops_of_Jupiter says: I would think this would backfire on them because without pre-order for an option they wont have an idea of how to stock the stores and they can sell out really quickly. If this happens the shipments of more dvds is going to take longer and they might actually sell less because some people might just say forget it and just wait until after the holiday rush if everytime they go to the store it is sold out.
Obviously the true fans will probably get it right away even if they have to go back, but people who are getting it as a gift might not be as motivated to make another trip to get it if it sells out...Drops_of_Jupiter says: I would think this would backfire on them because without pre-order for an option they wont have an idea of how to stock the stores and they can sell out really quickly. If this happens the shipments of more dvds is going to take longer and they might actually sell less because some people might just say forget it and just wait until after the holiday rush if everytime they go to the store it is sold out.
Obviously the true fans will probably get it right away even if they have to go back, but people who are getting it as a gift might not be as motivated to make another trip to get it if it sells out...Drops_of_Jupiter says: I would think this would backfire on them because without pre-order for an option they wont have an idea of how to stock the stores and they can sell out really quickly. If this happens the shipments of more dvds is going to take longer and they might actually sell less because some people might just say forget it and just wait until after the holiday rush if everytime they go to the store it is sold out.
Obviously the true fans will probably get it right away even if they have to go back, but people who are getting it as a gift might not be as motivated to make another trip to get it if it sells out...Drops_of_Jupiter says: I would think this would backfire on them because without pre-order for an option they wont have an idea of how to stock the stores and they can sell out really quickly. If this happens the shipments of more dvds is going to take longer and they might actually sell less because some people might just say forget it and just wait until after the holiday rush if everytime they go to the store it is sold out.
Obviously the true fans will probably get it right away even if they have to go back, but people who are getting it as a gift might not be as motivated to make another trip to get it if it sells out...MidnightSun321 says: i'll deffo be out my christmas. its not like WB to miss a good money oppertunity.